Midnight Sun - Williams Brothers Brewing Company

Manoftyr

New York

2.45/5  rDev -37.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Appearance-Pours damn near black into the glass with a sizable two or three finger tanned off-white head, very nice retention, tight and rocky and leaving plenty of dabs of lace.

Aroma-Kinda weak unfortunately, I don't get much other than the typical porter characteristics such as darkly roasted malt. Bottles says the beer is 'balanced by a generous handful of hops' but I sure can't smell any.

Taste-Dry, burnt, straight forward and pretty bland actually; I've had better porters.

Mouthfeel-Unacceptably thin, very, very, thin.

Drinkability-This is on its way to being a drainpour so I can't give it much; I didn't like this beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2010 10:55:58 | More by Manoftyr

Minkybut

Virginia

3/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I poured this drink into my tumbler at 45 degrees. The beer was very dark for sure. Black more like it with a chocolate colored head. The smell of the beer was very chocolate also and I had high hopes for the beer. However the beer tasted like a flat coke or Pepsi. I don't mean just flat I mean it tasted like Coke a Cola. I will not buy again.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2011 22:59:07 | More by Minkybut

Jeffo

Netherlands

3.05/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Got this one at De Bierkoning in Amsterdam.

From a 500ml bottle into a pint glass.

APPEARANCE: Pours dark brown and yields a 1+ finger, medium-thick looking, fluffy, light beige head with good retention. Dark brown in color, clear, with no carbonation evident. Head slowly fades to a good foam cap. A splotchy wisp and ring remain but leave no real lacing down the glass.

SMELL: Dark and roasted malts with some cocoa powder and chocolate aromas. Hints of oats are there and a slight earthy hop note and some spices. Muted, unfortunately, but nice.

TASTE: Dark and roasted malts and some toffee and cocoa notes as well. Oats and hints of leather and earthy hops. Mild and short lived aftertaste with some cocoa, earthy hop notes and some slight bitterness.

PALATE: Medium body and medium carbonation. Relatively creamy on the palate, goes down smooth and finishes crisp and slightly dry on the palate. Pretty good for the style.

OVERALL: A decent beer for sure, but I would choose Fuller's, or even St. Peter's before this one. Glad I was able to give this one a go, but I don't think I'll go back.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2011 20:03:21 | More by Jeffo

biglite351

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - a bit of orange around the edges, tall creamy off white head.

S - very nice, roasted malts, oats and sweetness.

T - Less malts than the scent. More the barley, oats and some bitterness from the hops.

M - solid coating, mild tingle on tongue.

D - I would not shy away from this. Solid for both drink only or with food.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2010 22:03:53 | More by biglite351

jpmclaug

South Carolina

3.48/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured from the bottle into my point glass

A - Dark black with an off white head that sticks around.

S - Salt, smoke and roast.

T - Once again a bit of salt mixed with smoke and roasted malts. A bit saltier than I would like. Not as chocolaty as I like. Kinda watered down. This is a decent beer but doesn't stand up to the other great porters.

M - creamy medium bodied with not too much carbonation

D - Decent beer but not great. I would drink this again but wouldn't seek it out or buy if I had other options.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2010 01:49:46 | More by jpmclaug

sprucetip

Alaska

3.53/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Black but thin enough to let light through and add highlights. Good activity, root beer colored head that dawdles briefly and falls.

Mellow roast and some light malty sweetness. Not bad, but not much in the way of depth or complexity.

Pretty much like the nose, some modest roast and faint malty sweetness with little depth or complexity. Again, not bad, but not all that interesting either.

Fairly strong carbonation, thinnish/medium body, and very light bitterness on the end.

This a well made, decent tasting but largely unremarkable beer with little depth or complexity.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 18:53:35 | More by sprucetip

BedetheVenerable

Missouri

3.53/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: 500ml brown bottle with nice label; best by September 2012. Kudos to another British brewery who actually puts dates on their beer! Split this with my wife, as she's the one that picked this out to try.

Appearance: Dark brown, nearly black, with dark walnut highlights when held up to the light. Good-sized light tan head which shows good retention.

Smell: Dark fruit, cherries, a hint of dry dusty roast, and a hint of earthy yeast. Pleasant, if a bit mellow.

Taste: This is mostly about the dark fruit, with just a bit of roast on the finish. Earthy yeast and dark malt, along with juicy dark fruit and a bit of cherry. Hint of smoke on the finish.

Mouthfeel: Low carbonation, almost like an on-cask feel.

Conclusion: Don't remember how much this cost, but thinking it was $4-5. A solid, if not particularly standoutish, traditional English stout.

B (84)

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 01:42:06 | More by BedetheVenerable

flyingpig

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.55/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Dark brown, caramel brown head that goes fast to leave thin soapy lace.

S - Dark roasted malts, some coffee, some toffee, roasted barely. Dark chocolate and a touch of spice at end.

T - Strong coffee taste, some rich, dark malts & a sweet toffee flavour. Hints of spice & creamy bitter finish with some ginger.

M - Medium, strong carbonation, rich & creamy smoothness, slight tang & very dry finish.

O - Quite a nice, refreshing beer that went down pretty well and had a good creamy feel to it. The root ginger worked well but the dryness in the finish was a little much for me.

1001 Beers To Try List:
http://abarwithnoname.wordpress.com/1001beers

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 14:12:32 | More by flyingpig

mrasskicktastic

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Black as the night itself - with a small bubbly head.

S - Coffee, toffee, heather and lavender. Not exactly heather and lavender, but these were the closest aromas that I could conjure. Weird.

T - Initially a mild coffee flavor which is quickly joined by heather, lavender and rosemary. Aftertaste is a light charcoal flavor with a bit of toffee.

M - Smooth, watery, no carbonation (as one would expect from a cask), refreshing.

D - Pretty good. In spite of the intense, bizarre, herbal flavors - it is still pretty good.

Serving type: cask

01-05-2009 03:01:08 | More by mrasskicktastic

MoreThanWine

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured a quarter inch mocha head with average fade. The body is a dark burnt umber brown color, almost coffee. The smell is very mild for a porter, even warm, but there's some roasted malt and cocoa. The taste mirrors and exceeds the smell. It has a nice oatmeal stout texture, smooth, creamy, almost milky. A good porter.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2012 09:36:33 | More by MoreThanWine

Travlr

District of Columbia

3.7/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance was one shade shy of midnight black, giant bubbles that settle quickly. Medium lacing.
Smell had caramel and milk chocolate.
Taste was smooth cocoa and dilute coffee, but sort of unbalanced; slight smoke finish.
Interesting; memorable; unique.

Serving type: cask

11-14-2009 01:15:40 | More by Travlr

mapofthedead

United Kingdom (England)

3.73/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Dark brown, almost black in color with a dark off-white/pale brown head which lasted well down the glass.

S: I got hints of chocolate and coffee, quite sweet smelling with some very feint hints of spice.

T: Chocolate and coffee again but a more bitter taste than the sweetness of the smell. There was a hint of the alcohol in the background taste.

M: Seemed quite light, almost watery, but pleasant and smooth.

D: Nice, easy and smooth to drink.

Notes: 500 ml bottle poured into an Imperial Pint glass. Best Before Date on bottle was MAY 2010.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2009 17:23:32 | More by mapofthedead

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-cask 1/26/2011 at Doherty's East Ave Irish Pub in Pawtucket, RI, served in a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a large dense beige head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains coffee, roasted malts, some fruit and a touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out creamy with flavors of coffee and a little bit of chocolate and fruit. There's also a touch of spices in the background. The roasted malt character is hearty and the hops presence is mild but complementary creating a decent balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Smooth and a little crisp, medium body, light-to-medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, slightly filling, mild kick, good representation of style, this is a decent beer to drink for a while especially if you like casked porters.

Serving type: cask

01-27-2011 18:05:08 | More by TheManiacalOne

charlatan

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.78/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Looks good: very dark and opaque with a little head around the rim. The nose is an earthy liquorice or maybe fennel seeds to me, suggesting this will be a sipper and maybe on the sweet side.

The taste is a liquorice, chocolate oatmeal combination with a sweet carbonated start giving way to subtle herbal hoppiness and then a metallic liquorice finish.

This is actually quite complex and definitely a sipper as the nose suggested. My limited experience suggests this is fairly idiosyncratic so well worth a try.

Then I read the label...ginger. That's it. Ginger not liquorice. A sort of Christmas Ale version of a porter.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 20:43:46 | More by charlatan

maxk

Maryland

3.78/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Purchased in a 500mL bottle from Great Grog in Edinburgh. Poured into a pint glass, well chilled.

A: Pours a very dark brown, minimal light getting through, with a latte-esque colored head. Very nice lacings.

S: Coffee, brown sugar, toffee, a tiny bit of alcohol in the nose too. There is some, slightly spicy scent which I can't quite put my finger on in there too.

T: A very nice roasted malt flavor is the first taste I get, followed by a prominent taste of coffee. There is a hint of chocolate in the aftertaste, as well as a tiny bit of the spiciness I smelled.

M: This beer has a great mouthfeel. It has a great viscosity to it, not too watery, but not syrupy, somewhere nicely in between. Good carbonation too.

Overall, I like this beer, it's a tasty, solid porter which is more interesting than many other UK porters. It's good, but not great.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2011 20:35:54 | More by maxk

EatsTacos

Yukon (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

Pours like black coffee with a fizzy and thin head. No real lacing

The aroma was coffee, expresso, chocolate and some roasted barley

The flavour was spicey and peppery, coffee, chocolate, roasted grain, some nuttiness. Ginger is on the ingredient list and adds to the spice and depth of the beer. Vanilla bean and toffee make up the sweet notes and the beer is bitter and dry in the finish

The mouthfeel for me was much too carbonated, very sharp and hard carbonation, with a medium to thin body

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2009 12:05:38 | More by EatsTacos

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

3.8/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pleasing porter on cask.

Presentation: 16 Oz draft serving. Menu offers a brief and fairly accurate description. Chalk ,board notes Alc. by Vol. (5.6%) Served in a pint shaker glass.

A - Black pour with some lighter deep brown edges. Nice 1"+ foamy head, short retention, and some lacing as it goes down.

S - Faint roast aroma with small notes of chocolate and caramel...

T - Good roasted malt flavor... Coffee, and touches of chocolate. Rather subdued. There is a very distant, almost unnoticeable spice, tangy note. It is not ginger but something in that neighborhood.

M - It´s a medium body and the faintest of cask carbonation is present. Smooth and even a bit creamy.

D - Goes well as a porter on cask without being too notable.

Notes: Worth the cask try but nothing particularly memorable. Good brew in any case... I wonder if part of the subdued taste is in part due to being an imported cask being on its last legs. Typically 3 weeks + to cross the Atlantic and get through customs for something like this, right?

Serving type: cask

11-25-2009 03:13:20 | More by Daniellobo

Zimbo

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.8/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A darkish dense tan head. Earthy and furry with overwelmingly liquoricish bitterness followed by a strong gingerness towards the finish. Ends very very long and very earthy.
Could do with perhaps some more seemless integration of these elements but still very nice.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2010 22:39:30 | More by Zimbo

jjboesen

Maryland

3.8/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a sweet Scottish porter brewed with oak and barley; it pours a dark body that, when settled, is caped by a crown of vanilla froth. The glass is ringed with a moderate amount of lacing.

There is a mild nose somewhat reminiscent of apple and bread; the palate detects the requisite bits of cocoa powder along with a strange, but intriguing, combination of malt and marshmellow.

This is a very non-agressive beer that offers a fine balance along with some crispness. All in all a fne quaff from a small Scottish brewer. Check it out if you come across it, because "if it's not Scottish, it's crap!"

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2011 00:25:39 | More by jjboesen

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a smaller fizzy fluffy head that fades semi slowly with a touch of lacing over dark black beer with no light.

Nose has a nice creamy porter, light roast, some milk chocolate, light cocoa, touch of oats, some vanilla and light caramel.

Taste is more porter light milk stout, pretty creamy, lactose sugar I think, milk chocolate, light cocoa, light roast, some vanilla and caramel, oats, some malty flavors, and light bitterness more from a bit from the roasted malts and hints of earthy hops. The mild sweetness dries just a touch and the creamyness lingers as it finishes, with a bit more bitterness, malts, chocolate, and more lactose.

Mouth is med to slightly lighter bodied, creamy and milky, with lower but decent for the beer carbonation.

Overall not bad, very creamy and lactose, nice malt flavors, not too bitter, nice chocolate and vanilla flavors, but could have had a bit more carbonation and bigger body, and maybe a hint more hops.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2011 01:33:32 | More by jlindros

farrago

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thin half finger of brown foam which doesn't stick around for long, leaves random islands across the surface, given this, more stickiness in the lacing than expected. Blackish-brown in color, opaque but not in a monolithic manner, light glimmer of burnt orange around the rims. Firm, well-packed nose of cocoa, dry dark chocolate, carob and a strong does of ginger, coriander spices, even a pinch of cayenne, the roast not acrid nor coffee-like, more like slowly roasted grains, has no distinct fruit nor citrus scents, long, if unobtrusive, presence in your nostrils. Medium-bodied, muscular presence, not immobile but you have to exercise those throat muscles to prod it down. The Indian cuisine like spices of ginger, cumin, anise and curry clear enough that they push most else to the side. This also hardens the contours of the cocoa, carob flavors. The carbonation moderate at best but does fit the general tone nicely. Odd that, again, virtually no fruit, citrus or other vaguely "sweet" flavors. This is a very intelligent and well-crafted beer, however, one that should be used in select circumstances, preferably with food.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2010 22:12:37 | More by farrago

WeissGary

3.88/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Quite a lovely porter, pours quickly and easily creating small head which doesn’t dissipate completely throughout the drink. Quite a spicy, dark and thick beer with a bitter quality throughout the taste. Another fine product from the brilliant William Brothers Brewery, this is one of my favourite beers and a frequent buy when I am in the mood for a Scottish ale! If you can get a hold of it, give it a pop!

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 20:57:54 | More by WeissGary

metter98

New York

3.9/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is very dark amber (near black) in color; traces of amber are visible near the edges of the glass when it is held up to the light. It poured with a thin tan head that died down but never completely faded away.
S: There are moderately strong aromas of roasted malts and toffee in the nose.
T: The taste is very similar to the smell and has flavors of chocolate and roasted malts along with some hints of coffee beans and nuts.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied, a bit watery and very smooth on the palate with a moderate to high amount of carbonation.
O: The beer is easy to drink but I’m not sure if I could have more than one of these in a single sitting.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2011 03:08:24 | More by metter98

kmacphail

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.95/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

I picked this up from the Tesco in the Inverness retail park, easily the widest variety of beers in Inverness with the possible exception of Morrisons in the city centre.

The beer poured a very dark brown colour with a thick, dark cream head.

The nose was a complex fusion of a wide variety of aromas that worked well together, complex but not too overpowering. Spices, chocolate and coffee were the main notes but these are only a small number in the overall mix.

The taste of malts, chocolate and a lingering aftertaste of coffee and a slight note of peat. However this is a bit of a weaker taste than expected. The beer is very heavy bodied, whilst I enjoyed it I do not think I could have more than a couple.

Very nice beer, but don't buy a case, try as part of a mix or simply pick up a couple off the shelf, if you can find it.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2009 21:23:43 | More by kmacphail

oberon

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into an imperial nonic a near jet black except for a few ruby highlights when held to the light,a 1/2 finger beige colored head that held well.Carred aromas with some black licorice really standing out as well,a bit of dark fruit and bitter chocolate as well.Heavy roast and charred dark fruit flavors,I was surprised at the dryness and the roast it was alot like an American style porter in my mind.A little sharp and thin in the feel but its a nice roasty porter,one I would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2011 21:03:00 | More by oberon